Almsco.com - NEWS

New brochure for ALMSCO’s high-definition time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 @ 10:17:07 GMT

ALMSCO International (Llantrisant, UK) has announced the release of a comprehensive new brochure for the company’s high-performance time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer for gas chromatography (GC), BenchTOF-dx™.

The publication, which will be of particular interest to analytical chemists, contains detailed information on how this innovative product has been designed to bring together a unique combination of break-through features that deliver high-definition mass spectrometry and outstanding performance with every GC application.

Highlighting the capability of BenchTOF-dx to provide full-range spectra at the sensitivity levels of quadrupole instruments running in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, the brochure also explains how the product’s rugged design ensures long-term stability of mass and analyte response, even for the dirtiest of samples.

Additional attributes of BenchTOF-dx include its high-speed spectral acquisition, which makes it amenable to all types of GC, and the product’s capability to produce reference quality spectra to simplify component identification. It also delivers sub-unit mass resolution which allows selective elimination of interferences and significant improvement of signal-to-noise ratios.

Designed to help the reader to find information quickly and easily, the free brochure can be downloaded here.

About ALMSCO International

Since its preliminary introduction to the market in 2008, the BenchTOF-dx has gone from strength-to-strength and is now being used to advance a range of GC and GCxGC/TOF MS areas including environmental contamination, oil exploration, food safety, metabolomics, homeland security and toxicology.

ALMSCO International is the mass spectrometry division of Markes International, the world’s leading supplier of analytical thermal desorption equipment for trace organic analysis.

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Analytical chemistry community to benefit from expansion of Markes International

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 @ 14:09:48 GMT

Markes International’s worldwide thermal desorption and mass spectrometry business is set to expand, bringing benefits for analysts monitoring trace organic chemicals in air, gas and materials. New premises are being opened in Llantrisant (near Cardiff, UK) and Cincinnati (Ohio, USA), with a focus of operations being customer support and the development of new analytical solutions.

The new building in Llantrisant, which is adjacent to the company’s existing headquarters, features a state-of-the-art laboratory for customer demonstrations and the development of new analytical procedures and products. There is also a conference room for seminars and customer training events, as well as improved visitor facilities and additional offices.

‘The new building will provide us with the space we need to allow our business to expand to meet customer demand, and provides an outstanding environment in which to demonstrate our instrumentation’ says Elizabeth Woolfenden, Director of Markes International.

The Cincinnati facility also has a cutting-edge laboratory to showcase the full range of Markes’ instrumentation, with particular emphasis on customer support. Woolfenden says ‘customers and distributors from the whole of the eastern US will now have a contact close to home, and a much more convenient place to see our technologies in action.’ She adds ‘this really helps enhance our presence in North America, which continues to be a major market for us’.

Woolfenden explains that the analytical chemistry sector remains healthy despite the difficult economic climate. ‘There remains strong demand for analytical equipment to detect volatile organic compounds at trace levels, primarily driven by public demand and emissions legislation’, she says. ‘These exciting developments at Llantrisant and Cincinnati will lead to big benefits for our customers, and will help take our business to the next level’, she adds.
Markes’ mass spectrometry division, ALMSCO International, also has a strong presence at both sites, and taking pride of place is its high-definition time-of-flight mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx.

‘What we want to do is show how top-quality time-of-flight mass spectrometry can really enhance the benefits of thermal desorption–gas chromatography’, says Woolfenden. ‘Opening these new buildings means that we can showcase our innovative technologies side-by-side, allowing us to show how their combined power can provide analysts with exceptional performance for even the most challenging of samples’.

Markes International is the world leader in thermal desorption technology and innovation, specialising in the manufacture and supply of cryogen-free thermal desorption instrumentation, sampling accessories and consumables for monitoring volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Markes’ global customer base includes major industry, government agencies, academia and the service laboratory sector.

ALMSCO International is a division of Markes International, and manufactures BenchTOF-dx, a bench-top time-of-flight mass spectrometer for high-performance GC/MS, alongside associated spectral deconvolution and data-mining software.

ALMSCO announces poster presentations at PittCon 2012

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 @ 11:45:39 GMT

ALMSCO International has announced it will be presenting eight posters at PittCon 2012, Orlando in March, in conjunction with Markes International. The details are as follows:

830-1 P
Automated Analysis of Canister and Online Samples for Every Air Monitoring Application
NICOLA WATSON, Stephen Davies, Kurt Thaxton
Monday Afternoon (12 March), Blue Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 3300-3500

1170-2 P
Real-World Emission Testing Applications within the Construction Product Industry
CAROLINE WIDDOWSON, Nicola Watson, Lara Kelly, Stephen Smith
Tuesday Morning (13 March), Red Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 1300-1500

1170-3 P
Harmonizing Analysis of VOCs from Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation
CAROLINE WIDDOWSON, Paul Morris, Lara Kelly, Nicola Watson
Tuesday Morning (13 March), Red Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 1300-1500

1185-3 P
Making Tube Sampling Easy – The Development of a New Type of ‘Grab Sampler’
NICOLA WATSON, Kurt Thaxton
Tuesday Morning (13 March), Blue Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 3300-3500

2090-1 P
An Innovative System for Combined Analysis of ‘Air Toxics’ Using Canister and/or Sorbent Tube Sampling for US EPA Methods TO-15 and TO-17
LARA KELLY, Nicola Watson, Kurt Thaxton
Wednesday Afternoon (14 March), Blue Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 3300-3500

2110-9 P
Analysis of the Odour Profile of Food Products Using A Micro-Chamber/
Thermal Extractor System and Detection by Thermal Desorption–GC/TOF MS
GARETH M ROBERTS, Paul Morris, Daniel Cooper
Wednesday Afternoon (14 March), Blue Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 3300-3500

2440-7 P
A Rugged Quantitative Technique for the Determination of Ultra-Trace Level Flavour Compounds in Beer Using Sorptive Extraction and Thermal Desorption-GC/TOF-MS
NICK BUKOWSKI, Gareth Roberts, Kurt Thaxton
Thursday Morning (15 March), Blue Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 3300-3500

2450-3 P
The Detection and Identification of Trace-Level Chemical Warfare Agents and Explosives Using an Online Thermal Desorption System in Conjunction with a High-Sensitivity Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer
GARETH M ROBERTS, Gerhard Horner, Gudrun Bunte
Thursday Morning (15 March), Red Area on Exposition Floor, Aisles 1300-1500

ALMSCO International at PittCon 2012 (Booth #1780, 1781)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 @ 10:21:04 GMT

Press release

Markes and ALMSCO International to jointly showcase high-sensitivity technology for trace-level aroma and fragrance profiling at PittCon 2012

Markes International Ltd (Llantrisant, UK) together with its mass spectrometry division, ALMSCO International, and US subsidiary Markes Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) have jointly announced that they will be showcasing their latest suite of products for trace-level organic chemical analysis at PittCon 2012, in Orlando, FL, from March 11–15, 2012. These market-leading technologies for sample preparation, thermal desorption (TD) and time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry for gas chromatography will be exhibited on booth #1780, 1781.

On show will be the newly-released CIA Advantage™ TD system for automated and cryogen-free analysis of VOCs in air or gas canisters alongside Markes’ state-of-the-art technology for manual and automated thermal desorption of tube-based samples. The booth will also feature Markes’ increasingly popular Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor™ (μ-CTE™) sample preparation accessory to complement our TD range, The μ-CTE provides a versatile quick screening tool for volatile and semi-volatile organic chemicals (VOCs and SVOCs) emitted from manufactured goods and raw materials and is also used extensively for fragrance and aroma profiling.

Offering reference-quality full spectral information at traditional SIM detection limits ALMSCO’s high-performance TOF mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx™, promises to be a highlight of the show. Combining selectivity, stability and speed with full spectral sensitivity, this unique instrument delivers high-de?nition mass spectrometry and outstanding performance for every GC application. Rugged and robust for routine operation BenchTOF-dx, is also more than equal to the challenges of advanced research. It offers identi?cation and measurement of both target compounds and unknowns in highly complex matrices and at the lowest possible levels.

Completing the suite of products on dispay will be ALMSCO’s pioneering data mining software, TargetView™, for automated identification and measurement of trace target compounds in highly complex GC/MS profiles.

“The combination of these technologies is particularly useful to those involved in the GC analysis of trace level components in highly complex mixtures” says Alun Cole, Markes’ CEO. “By using Markes and ALMSCO technologies side-by-side, we’re able to provide ‘multi-hyphenated’ solutions for a wide range of GC/MS applications, and at Pittcon 2012, we’ll be show-casing this using food aroma profiling as an example”.

The companies will present a total of eight posters that describe the combined application of their technologies, including the analysis of trace-level ‘air toxics’, the odour-profiling of cheese, and online detection of chemical warfare agents and explosives.

For further information on Markes’ thermal desorption products, accessories, consumables or technologies, or ALMSCO’s time-of-flight mass spectrometer or software, visit stand #1780,1781 at PittCon 2012. Alternatively, please visit either www.markes.com or www.almsco.com, or call +44 (0)1443 230935 (Markes) or +44 (0)1443 233920 (ALMSCO).

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Press release | High definition GC/MS technology

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 @ 14:01:35 GMT

ALMSCO International’s High Definition GC/MS Technology Enables Trace Level Detection of Pesticides in Complex Apple Matrix

Llantrisant, UK (July 27, 2011): ALMSCO International, a division of Markes International Ltd, today announced a new high definition GC/MS method enabling scientists to screen for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as pesticides at trace levels in complex apple matrices, without dependence on extensive sample clean-up. The new method, which is one component of ALMSCO’s extensive food safety offering, is designed to offer optimal sensitivity without comprising speed of analyses and selectivity. This application is detailed in a poster entitled “Environmental and food safety screening of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by GC(xGC)/TOF MS without dependence on extensive sample clean-up”, and is available via www.almsco.com.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including pesticides and dioxins, are chemical compounds produced by human activity and are widely distributed in the environment by natural processes, persisting for many years after forming. POPs become more concentrated as they move up the food chain and food is therefore the most common source of human exposure to these dangerous substances. Pesticides are often used to prevent, destroy and control pests on food crops and can leave residues on agricultural products. This poses a risk to consumers and consumption can result in effects ranging from short-term health problems such as headaches and dizziness to long-term damage to the nervous system and, in some cases, cancer.

Continuous monitoring of pesticides in food is key in controlling exposure and facilitating regulatory compliance. Traditionally, in food industries and quality control (QC) laboratories samples can be rapidly and quantitatively screened for compliance in fast analytical cycles by using triple quadrupole GC/MS. However, when bringing new MRM methods online or adding more compounds to existing methods, it can be difficult to analyse for new and potentially toxic compounds in complex matrices. High definition GC/MS technology, such as ALMSCO International’s Bench-top time of flight (TOF) BenchTOF-dx™, has emerged as a powerful and cost-effective technique for selective, sensitive and precise detection of low level pesticides in food samples. The new method developed by ALMSCO analyses pesticides in a complex apple matrix and enables analysts to screen for both known and unknown compounds at much lower levels with a high degree of definition and clarity. Sample components can be clearly identified, quantified and differentiated from one another, while also retaining the required attributes of speed and selectivity. With modern high definition GC/MS technology, samples can be prepared more quickly and analysed with higher throughput, while also fulfilling regulatory requirements.

In this method, researchers analysed 23 pesticides in a complex apple matrix using the GC/TOF technology. The results show that a BenchTOF-dx platform enables extraction at sub unit mass, substantially reducing matrix effects. When combined with comprehensive GCxGC technology, sub unit mass extraction offers the possibility to further extend the list of analytes that can be screened in a single analysis within a given time. This method enables high performance and productivity pesticide analysis and the sensitivity of the BenchTOF-dx removes the need for extensive sample clean-up. Enhanced productivity is especially beneficial in cases of increased sample demands, for example during a food safety crisis. The launch of this application highlights ALMSCO’s expertise in food safety testing.

For further information on ALMSCO’s food safety offering or the ALMSCO International range of products, please visit www.almsco.com, email enquiries@almsco.com or phone +44 (0)1443 230935.

ALMSCO International posters at ASMS 2011

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 @ 13:44:02 GMT


ALMSCO International will be present at Booth #42 and also have a corporate poster at this years ASMS annual conference in Denver (June 4-9)
ALMSCO, a division of Markes International, will also be presenting two posters: Environmental and food safety screening of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by GC(xGC)/TOF MS without dependence on extensive sample clean-up. Development of a sensitive and reliable method for the measurement of VOC migration from food packaging; GC/TOF MS vs. GC/quadrupole MS Copies of these posters will be available on request (enquiries@almsco.com) following the conference.

ALMSCO to Showcase BenchTOF-dx™ Mass Spectrometer at PittCon (Booth #1322,1323)

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 @ 12:02:09 GMT

Press release

ALMSCO International to Showcase BenchTOF-dx™ Mass Spectrometer Providing Sensitive Analysis without Compromising Speed or Selectivity on booths #1322, 1323

ALMSCO International, a division of Markes International Ltd., will be on booths #1322, 1323 at Pittcon 2011, showcasing its BenchTOF-dx, a mass spectrometer offering the sensitivity and clarity needed to identify the nature of known and unknown compounds at trace levels. In addition, the recently launched Targetview™ software will also be displayed. This innovative software has been designed to automate and improve the detection and measurement of multiple target chemicals in complex GC/MS data sets. When combined with Markes International’s market-leading systems for thermal desorption (TD), this provides a complete solution for analyzing ultra-trace level components in complex samples.

ALMSCO’s innovative bench-top time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx, will be displayed on booths #1322, 1323. Laboratories that screen samples at trace levels will benefit from a method that combines speed and resolution with uncompromised spectral quality. The novel technology enables analysts to screen for both known and unknown compounds at much lower levels with a high degree of definition and clarity.

While alternative techniques offer such a high level of sensitivity they provide too much detail about the identity of the compounds, making it difficult to characterize them at very low levels, the BenchTOF-dx screens samples at trace levels while maintaining sensitivity, speed of analyses and selectivity. An analogy that demonstrates the difference between this mass spectrometer and other instruments that perform high resolution accurate mass (HRAM) MS is that of Google Maps™. This web mapping application enables users to zoom into a house so closely that all that can be viewed are the bricks, thereby making it impossible to identify the house or its location. This feature of Google Maps offers the same results as those generated when using HRAM MS for compound screening. In contrast, the BenchTOF-dx™ provides the equivalent of a Google Map image where the zoom feature has been used at a level at which each house and its specific location in a given street can be clearly distinguished and identified. In the same way the technique used by the BenchTOF-dx™ can clearly distinguish between the different compounds in a sample.

The BenchTOF-dx offers superior full-scan sensitivity at typical GC-quad SIM levels. Trace compounds can be clearly identified, quantified and differentiated from one another, while also retaining the required attributes of speed and selectivity. BenchTOF-dx readily integrates with existing gas chromatographs (GCs) and associated data handling / control packages, enabling analysts to screen samples for trace target compounds at much lower levels on a routine basis and with a negligible learning curve.

ALMSCO will also display its TargetView software. This innovative software benefits users in fields ranging from environmental monitoring to forensic science. TargetView provides a simple and more accurate way of identifying which target compounds are present in a sample, as well as providing reliable peak area information to complement and support quantification by conventional GC/MS data handling packages.

For further information on BenchTOF-dx, TargetView, or the ALMSCO International range of products, please visit booth #1322, 1323 at Pittcon 2011. Alternatively, please visit www.almsco.com, email enquiries@almsco.com or phone +44 (0)1443 230935.

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For further press information please contact: Lindsay Baldry, The Scott Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AA, United Kingdom, Tel: + 44 1477 539 539, Fax: +44 1477 539 540, E-mail: almsco@scottpr.com

Poster presentations at PittCon 2011

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 @ 08:52:55 GMT

ALMSCO has announced it will be presenting the following posters at PittCon 2011:

Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Diesel Engine Particulates Using Direct Sampling Thermal Desorption, Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and Novel Data Analysis Software

Kurt Thaxton, Paul Morris, Daniel Cooper, Nick Bukowski, Alun Cole

Abstract Number: 1200 - 4P
Session 1200 - GC-MS Methodology
Day and Time: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, Afternoon
Room Blue Area on Exposition Floor - Hall B, Aisles 3900-4500

Comprehensive GCxGC/TOF-MS Analysis of Pesticides in Lettuce Extracts

Daniel Cooper, Nick Bukowski, Damien Rosser, Gareth Roberts

Abstract Number: 1200 - 18P
Session 1200 - GC-MS Methodology
Day and Time: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, Afternoon
Room Blue Area on Exposition Floor - Hall B, Aisles 3900-4500

Evaluation of a Novel Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer Coupled to a Comprehensive Two-dimensional Gas Chromatograph for Screening Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants in Complex Samples

Nick Bukowski, Daniel Cooper, Gerhard Horner, Damien Rosser, Kurt Thaxton

Abstract Number: 1200 - 19P
Session 1200 - GC-MS Methodology
Day and Time: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, Afternoon
Room Blue Area on Exposition Floor - Hall B, Aisles 3900-4500

ALMSCO to showcase TargetView software and High Definition MS at PittCon 2011

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 @ 15:24:21 GMT

Press release

ALMSCO International to Showcase TargetView™ Software for Improved Analysis of Target Compounds in Complex GC/MS Data at PITTCON 2011 (Booth 1322)

ALMSCO International today announces that it will demonstrate its recently launched TargetView™ software package at PITTCON 2011. The innovative software has been designed to automate and improve detection and measurement of multiple target chemicals in complex GC/MS data sets. The software will benefit GC/MS users in a range of important fields, including environmental monitoring, food/flavour/fragrance profiling, forensic science and testing chemical emissions from consumer goods. ALMSCO will also highlight its bench-top time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx™, with the capability to perform high definition mass spectrometry (HDMS), a cost-effective technique for screening samples at trace levels, offering optimal sensitivity, speed of analyses and selectivity. When combined with Markes International’s market-leading systems for thermal desorption (TD), this provides a total solution for analysing ultra-trace level components in complex samples. ALMSCO will exhibit these innovations on booth #1322, 1323 at PITTCON 2011, Atlanta, GA, March 13-March 18, 2011.

While current compound identification methodology is often time consuming and prone to error (false positives/ negatives) even in expert hands, TargetView provides a simpler and more accurate way of identifying which target compounds are present in a sample. In addition to this it provides reliable peak area information to complement and support quantification by conventional GC/MS data handling packages. TargetView can also be used to identify the total number of compounds present in a sample (knowns and unknowns) by library searching.

Unlike alternative complex GC/MS software platforms, TargetView does not require a significant investment of time to become proficient. The interface and reporting format are easy to use with few parameters requiring manual setting and no need for in-depth knowledge in either deconvolution or chemometrics. Furthermore, the software package can process all common GC/MS data formats, thereby lending itself to simple integration with existing laboratory procedures. TargetView also works with chromatograms of worst-case complexity; e.g. with high numbers of analytes of varying concentrations and with high degrees of compound co-elution.

The new software package compares clean, deconvoluted mass spectral data against EI mass spectra in existing libraries (commercial or proprietary) using a sophisticated chemometric process. It can automatically detect hundreds of target compounds in one run and immediately generates a simple customisable report including details such as retention times, quantification ions, peak area values and match coefficients as required.

ALMSCO International will also showcase its bench-top time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx™ at PITTCON 2011. BenchTOF-dx offers superior full-scan sensitivity at typical GC-quad SIM levels. This high definition mass spectrometer combines speed and resolution with uncompromised spectral quality even at trace concentrations. HDMS is an efficient and cost-effective alternative compound screening technique to high resolution accurate mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry. The novel method enables analysts to screen for both known and unknown compounds at much lower levels with a high degree of definition and clarity. Trace compounds can be clearly identified, quantified and differentiated from one another, while also retaining the required attributes of speed and selectivity.

BenchTOF-dx readily integrates with existing gas chromatographs (GCs) and associated data handling / control packages, enabling analysts to screen samples for trace target compounds at much lower levels on a routine basis and with a negligible learning curve.

For further information on TargetView, HDMS or the ALMSCO International range of products, please visit booth #1322, 1323 at Pittcon 2011. Alternatively, please visit www.almsco.com, email enquiries@almsco.com or phone +44 (0)1443 230935.

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Product launch | TargetView: Target compound detection software for GC/MS

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 @ 14:00:10 GMT

Press release

ALMSCO International Launches TargetView™ Software for Faster, Simpler and More Accurate Analysis of Target Compounds in Complex GC/MS Data

Llantrisant, UK (November 08, 2010) ALMSCO International today announces the launch of its TargetView™ Software package, which has been designed to automate and improve detection and measurement of multiple target chemicals in complex GC/MS data sets. The software will benefit GC/MS users in a range of important fields, including environmental monitoring, food/flavour/fragrance profiling, forensic science and testing chemical emissions, from consumer goods.

Unlike alternative complex GC/MS software platforms, TargetView does not require a significant investment of time to become proficient. The interface and reporting format are easy to use with few parameters requiring manual setting and no need for in-depth knowledge in either deconvolution or chemometrics. Furthermore, the software package can process all common GC/MS data formats, thereby lending itself to simple integration with existing laboratory procedures. TargetView also works with chromatograms of worst-case complexity; e.g. with high numbers of analytes of varying concentrations and with high degrees of compound co-elution.

TargetView is the latest addition to ALMSCO International’s product portfolio, which also includes the bench-top time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx™. BenchTOF-dx offers superior full-scan sensitivity at typical GC-quad SIM levels. It also combines speed and resolution with uncompromised spectral quality even at trace concentrations.

For further information on TargetView or the ALMSCO International range of products, please visit the TargetView pages at www.almsco.com, email enquiries@almsco.com or phone +44 (0)1443 230935.

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